Scanning mechanism



[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,999,164 4/1935 250/234 2,231,494 2/1941 Dickinson 250/219X 2,796,258 6/1957 Beck 271/29 3,022,891 2/1962 Efram..... 209/1l1.7 3,300,045 1/1967 Beltz 209/111.7 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Attorney-Norman N. Holland ABSTRACT: A scanning mechanism for detecting markings on cards wherein a light source and cooperating photocell are used to detect the markings. Markings on a card causes the photocell to trip a pair of switches thereby conditioning a flipt'lop circuit causing it to apply voltage across a gate circuit. A relay is energized and raises a tiltable ramp directing the marked card into a marked card receptacle located below the ramp. An unmarked card will not fire the gate circuit and does not raise the ramp. The unmarked card is fed to an unmarked card receptacle.

111.7;250/211, 212, 219DC, 219DOC, 234, 219; 271/29 [22] Filed [73] Assignee [54] SCANNING MECHANISM m H It'll W. 4 511 In c/1 PATENTED 0501 SL970 BQEATLZBS sum 3 or 9 INVENTORS A4191. L1 5 7 y CAQL 6 5990/7 Pm mmm 3547.265

' SHEET 7 OF 9 IN VENTORS A rroqysy PATENTED DEC] 51970 3541265 sum a [If 9 I N VENTORS rroP/vey sheet, to determine whether it has been marked in any manner and to separate marked documents from unmarked documents.

Cards or sheets, which may have information codes or other data thereon, such as proxies, checks, etc., are also provided a blank space which is to be marked by the recipient for various purposes, such as change of address, proxy voting, etc.

Heretofore, scanning mechanisms have. been designed which are adapted to scan the cards and to indicate which cards have been marked. It has been found, however, that such prior scanning devices do not operate with the speeds necessary for present day requirements and that they involve complicated mechanisms and/or electronic circuitry which makes the cost of such machines prohibitivelt has also been found that present machines are not able to effectively separate both stiff cards and resilient paper sheets.

Furthermore, such machines do not have readily adjustable scanning devices to permit scanning of different parts of the card or sheet. Likewise, such machines do not have means for scanning cards of any length. Moreover, such prior machines require a special sensitive marking device.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved scanning mechanism which will scan both stiff cards and flexible sheets.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved scanning mechanism which will sense markings even though not marked with a special marking device.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved scanning mechanism which will separate marked cards and sheets from unmarked ones at greater speeds.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved scanning mechanism which is'adapted to be used both with flexible paper sheets and with relatively stiff cards.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved scanning mechanism in which the scanning means are easily adjustable to scan different areas thereof.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved scanning mechanism in which a predetermined area only of the card or sheet will be scanned by the scanning means.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of 45 an improved scanning mechanism which will scan cards of varying length.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice. i

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scanning mechanism made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the scanning mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the scanning mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the card feeding station;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail of the vacuum feeding means in the feeding station;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the scanning station of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the means for adjusting the scanning means;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the scanning means;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the marking station;

FIG. 11 is a detailed side view of the marking station;

FIG. 12 is another detailed side view thereof;

LII

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the separating station showing the separating ramp in one position;

FIG. 14 is another perspective view of the separating station showing the separating ramp in another position;

FIG. 15 is a detail showing the feeding mechanism in the separating station;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a card or sheet adapted to t be processed by the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view of electric circuit of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a block diagram thereof.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Referring more particularly to the drawings, the present invention is adapted to process cards or sheets C, which are preferably rectangular as shown in FIG. 16. The card C has areas, represented by the lines 17 and 18,.which are to be marked by the user. Although, for convenience, the sheets and/or cards adapted to be scanned will be referred to as cards, it will be understood that the present invention may also be used to scan materials other than cards or sheets.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the cards C are stacked in a feeding station F which comprises a stacking magazine I, having sidewalls 2, a bottom wall 3 and an inclined front wall 4. The cards C are stacked on the front wall 4 and arefed oneby-one by a vacuum feed assembly 5 to'the scanning station S.

The scanning station S is provided with a light source assembly 20 and a photoelectriccell assembly 21. The light source assembly 20 emits a beam of light which is directed onto the portion of the card C as the card passes therebeneath. The light is reflected by areas 17 and 18 of the card C upwardly into the photoelectric cell assembly 21.

If areas 17 and 18 of the card C are not marked, a tiltable ramp 42 is not tilted and remains in a level position and the unmarked card will be deposited in an unmarked card bin 40. However, if areas 17 and 18 of the card C have been marked, a relay in an electric circuit is energized to tilt the tiltable ramp 42 upwardly so that the marked card falls into a marked card bin 41.

If desired, a marking station M may be provided to apply a number or other suitable indicia to each card as it passes thereby.

In addition, counting switches may also be provided so that an accurate count of the unmarked and the marked cards may be determined.

THE CARD The card C which is adapted to be used with the present invention, is the usual rectangular card C shown in FIG. 16. The card C has marking areas, represented by the lines 17 and 18 which may be marked by the user. The card C may be relatively stiff or flexible and may be provided with spaced information or data holes 16 as is usual with these items. Although, for convenience, the word card" will'beused to describe the card C, it will be understood that it is within the purview of the present invention to scan either stiff cards, flexible sheets or other materials, and that the use of the word card" is intended to encompass such items.

FEEDING MECHANISM The feeding mechanism F used with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and comprises a magazine 1 adapted to feed roller 8 having a stationary hollow inner core 9 with a conduit 10 communicating with its outer periphery, an end plate 11 and a rotatable outer sleeve 12 having at least one port 13 therein. The upper end of the lowermost card C lies adjacent the sleeve 12 and a stop member 14 retains all the H cards C, except the lowermost few. The conduit faces in "the direction of the stacked cards C. Air is withdrawn from hollow core 9 and conduit 10 to create a vacuum. As the 'jisleeve 12 rotates and its port 13 communicates with conduit .10, the suction is transmitted to the lowermost card through SCANNING MECHANISM 5; Feed belts 15 move the card to the scanning station S shown in FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 9. The scanning station S comprises a light Qsource assembly and a photo cell assembly 21. The light source assembly 20 comprises a pair of tubes 22 each having a light source 23 therein and lens system 24 to project a beam of light L onto a card C passing therebeneath. The tubes '22 are adjustably mounted in a bracket 25 by means of adjustable g' sleeves 26.

-The photoelectric cell assembly 21 comprises a pair of gsleeves 27 mounted on a bracket 28. Each sleeve has an open- 29 and a light sensitive photodiode cell 30 therein. The lens system 24 of the light assembly 20 concentrates the light L on a small area only of the card C, adjacent lines 17 and 18. The opening 29 of th the photoelectric cell sleeve 27 is very small and elongated so that no stray light strikes the photodiode cell 30. It is formed in the apex of the tapered nose of sleeve 27. The apex is positioned so closely adjacent to the card C that a small area only of the card C will be scanned by Ethe photoelectric cell assembly 21. Furthermore, the elon- I gated opening 29 terminates below the photodiode 30 so even if stray light enters it will not strike the photodiodes 30. Thus, only light from the small marking area on the card will strike the photodiodes.

;As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the brackets 25 and 28 are mounted on an adjustable plate 31 controlled .by a bolt 32 so that the light assembly 20 and the photoelectric cell assembly 21 may be adjusted simultaneously transversely across the .-path of the cards to permit scanning of any portion of the card A pair of light sources and photoelectric cells are shown in the drawings to permit scanning of marking areas adjacent lines 17 and 18 on the card C. It will be understood that, if desired, the number of scanning units used may be changed depending on the number of marking areas to be scanned. It willalso be understood that either one of the two photocell assemblies 21 or the light source assembly 20 may be rendered inactive if desired.

CARD BINS The marked card bin or receptacle 41 and the unmarked card bin or receptacle 40 are adapted to receive marked cards and unmarked cards, respectively. Each bin as seen in FIG. 3 has an elevator 46 and 45, respectively, which may be spring pressed, and mounted on supports 43 and 44.

'A tiltable ramp 42, operatively connected to a relay, is provided over the marked card bin 41 and is adapted to either tilt upwardly when a marked card is sensed or remain in its lower position when an unmarked card is sensed. As seen more clearlyjn FIGS. 13 and 14 the ramp 42 is connected by a rotatable rod 48 which is controlled by the relay. When the relay is energized. by a marked card being sensed by the scanning station, it will rotate the rod 48 and tilt the ramp 42 upwardly so that the marked card is deposited in the marked card bin 41 and onto the elevator 46. When this occurs a switch 47 is actuated which counts each card. The elevator 46 will lower slightly with each marked card that is placed tl'i'e'rein.

'Unmarked cards will not energize the relay so that the ramp 42 is not raised and unmarked cards are moved by rollers 49 to the end of the platform 50 and deposited in the unmarked card bin 40 and onto elevator 45, which also lowers slightly. A switch 51 is provided in the path of the unmarked cards so that they may be easily counted.

MARKING STATION trolled by a guide roller 66 extending from arm 67. The weight:

of the guide roller 66 ordinarily moves the pressure roller 63 away from the platform 50, as shown in FIG. 11. However,

when a card C passes therebeneath, it lifts the guide roller 66 upwardly. This will pull lever 64 downwardly to lower the pressure roller 63 at the same time that the inking bar 62 is beneath the card C (FIG. 12) so that a mark is impressed on the card C.

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT The control circuitry and block diagram of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 and comprises a pair of on" switches 70 and 71 and an "of switch 72. These switches 70, 71 and 72 are actuated by the cards C passing thereby.

The first on" switch 70 conditions a flip-flop circuit 73 so that it will be in a position to receive a signal. The second on" switch 71 is actuated simultaneously with the first on switch 70 and applies a voltage across an electric gate circuit 74. The gate circuit 74 controls a relay (not shown) which in turn rotates the rod 48 which controls the tiltable ramp 42. I

If a marked card passes beneath the scanning station, an indicative signal will be impressed on the gate 75 of the controlled rectifier or SCR 76. The flip-flop circuit 73 at this time is in the reset position with conduction occurring through the transistor 77. Substantially simultaneously, the card will pass over the on switches 70 and 71. Switch 71 is closed thereby and impresses an operating voltage across the SCR 76. Switch 70 is simultaneously closed and will cause the flip-flop circuit 73 to switch to the set position so that the transistor 78 will conduct. This cuts off conduction in the transistor 77 and correspondingly impresses a higher voltage through diode 79 on the SCR gate 75. This latter voltage, combined with that from the photocell, will trigger the SCR 76 to conduction thereby operating the pivoted cam and diverting the card to the first bin or receptacle. When the card has passed, on" switch 71 will open causing the SCR 76 to cutoff.

If an unmarked card passes beneath the scanning station, the gate circuit 74 does not fire and the tiltable ramp 42 remains level with the platform 50 to direct the card to the unmarked card bin 40.

The off switch 72 is closed by each passing card and will cause the flip-flop circuit 73 to switch to the reset position to await the passage of the next card.

The switches 70, 71 and 72 are adjustable along the path of the card so that the cycle may be started at any desired point.

OPERATION wardly into the photoelectric cell assembly 21. At the same time, a pair of on switches 70 and 71 are tripped by the card C. These switches condition the flip-flop circuit 73 so that it:

will receive a signal and also apply a voltage acrossthe gate circuit 74. If a card is not marked, the circuit is not activated so that the relay controlling the ramp 42 is not energized and the ramp is not raised. The card will move along platform 50 and be deposited in an unmarked card bin 40. However, if the card is marked, and the mark is sensed by the photoelectric cell assembly 21, the SCR 76 of the gate circuit fires to energize a relay which rotates rod 48 and raises the ramp 42 so that the card falls into the marked card bin 41. An"off switch 72 is tripped by the card as it passes thereby'to recondition the circuit so that it can sense and process another card.

it will thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved card scanning mechanism which will scan cards and separate marked from unmarked cards at greater speeds, which is adapted to be used both with resilient and stiff cards, which will scan a small predetermined area regardless of its position on the card, and which will scan cards of varying length.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scopeofthe invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it. is to be understood'that all matter herein is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A scanning mechanism for scanning cards having a predetermined marking area thereon comprising means for moving a card in a path past a scanning station, means, for directing light against the marking area of a card passing thereby, light sensitive means comprising a unit having an outer sleeve and a relatively small elongated opening and a photodiode spaced above said opening, said opening terminating a distance below said diode, said light sensitive means being adapted to receive reflected light'from said marking area to detect whether the marking area has been marked, means responsive to said light sensitive means for separating marked cards from unmarked cards, said light sensitive means and said light directing means being simultaneously adjustable in a direction transverse to said path, said light sensitive means comprising a plurality of light sensitive units for simultaneously sensing a plurality of marking areas, marked card receptacle means and unmarked card receptacle means adjacent one another and below the path of travel-,of said cards, said means responsive to said light sensitive means causing marked cards to be deposited in said marked card receptacle means and causing unmarked cards to be deposited in'said unmarked card receptacle, a ramp along the path of travel, said ramp being adapted to be lifted from a position directing unmarked cards into the unmarked card receptacle to a position directing marked cards into the marked card receptacle, said ramp being lifted by means of a relay operated by an electric circuit responsive to said light sensitive means, said circuit being energized i0 actuate said relay by a marked card, said relay being controlled by said electric circuit having a pair of marked card will cause the light sensitive means to energize the gate circuit to actuate the relay.

4. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein switch means are provided responsive to cards passing thereby for conditioning said flip-flop and to applyvoltage across said gate circuit.

5. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light directing means and said light sensitive means are mounted on a common bracket which is slidably adjustable in a transverse direction in its support.

6. A scanning mechanism for scanning cards having a predetermined marking area thereon comprising means for moving a card in a path past a scanning station, means for switches ailapted to be simultaneously actuated by a card directing light against the marking area of a card passing thereby, light sensitive means comprising a unit having an outer sleeve and a relatively small elongated opening and a photodiode spaced above said opening, said opening tenninating a distance below said diode, said light sensitive means being adapted to receive reflected light from said marking area to detect whether the marking area has been marked, V

means responsive to said light sensitive means for separating marked cards from unmarked cards, said light sensitivemeans and said light directing means being simultaneously adjustable in a direction traverse to said path, said light sensitive means comprising a plurality of light sensitive units for simultane ously sensing a plurality of marking areas, said light directing means and light sensitive means being mounted on a common bracket that is slidably adjustable in a transverse direction in its support, marked card receptacle means and unmarked card receptacle means adjacent one another and below the path of travel of said cards, said means responsive to said light sensitive means causing marked cards to be deposited in said marked card receptacle means and causing unmarked cards to be deposited in said unmarked card receptacle, a ramp along the path of travel, said ramp being adapted to be lifted from a position directing unmarked cards into the unmarked card receptacle to a position directing marked cards into the marked card receptacle, said ramp being lifted by means of a relay operated by an electric circuit responsive to said light sensitive means, said circuit being energized to actuate said relay by a marked card, said relay being controlled by said electric circuit having a flip-flop and a gate circuit, a pair of switches adapted to be simultaneously actuated by a card passing thereby for conditioning said flip-flop to receive a signal and for applying a voltage across said gate circuit.

7. A scanning mechanism as claimedin claim 6 wherein marking means are provided for applying a mark to cards passing thereby. I

8. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein said marking means comprises a rotatable marker adapted to cooperate with a pivoted pressure roller mounted above the path of said cards.

9. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 8 wherein said pivoted pressure roller is brought into pressure applying position by actuation of a control roller mounted on said pressure roller.

.10. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 9 wherein means areprovided for counting the number of cards in said unmarked card receptacle and the number of cards in said marked card receptacle.

11. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein card feeding means are provided, said card feeding means comprising vacuum feed means.

12. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said vacuum feed means comprises an outer rotatable sleeve having an opening therein and a stationary. hollow inner core adapted to have air evacuated therefrom and having a conduit therein.

13. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 12 wherein means are provided for accommodating a stack of cards and positioned adjacent said outer sleeve whereby a coincidence of the conduit in the inner core and the opening in the outer sleeve will remove a card from said stack.

14. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 13 wherein said cards have data openings therein and wherein the opening in the outer sleeve is adapted to strike the card in an area spaced from said data openings.

15. A scanning mechanism for scanning cards having a predetermined marking area thereon comprising means for moving a card in a pathpast a scanning station, means in said scanning station for directing light against the marking area of a card passing thereby, a plurality of light sensitive means mounted closely adjacent-a card passing thereby simultaneously sensed so that a plurality of marking areas can be scanned, said light sensitive means comprising a unit having an outer sleeve and a relatively small elongated opening, a

means adapted to receive reflected light from the marking area of said card to detect whether the marking area has been marked, said light sensitive means and said light directing means being simultaneously adjustable in a direction transverse to said path to permit various areas of a card to be scanned, said light directing and light sensitive means being mounted on a common bracket which is slideably adjustable in a transverse direction in its support, and means responsive to said light sensitive means for separating marked cards from unmarked cards, a marked card receptacle and an unmarked card receptacle is provided adjacent each other below the path of said cards and wherein means are provided responsive to said light sensitive means for causingmarked cards to be deposited in said marked card receptacle and for causing-unmarked cards to be deposited in said unmarked card receptacle, a ramp provided along said path, said ramp being movable from a position directing unmarked cards into the unmarked card receptacle to a position directing cards into the marked card receptacle, said ramp being adapted-to be lifted responsive to light sensitive means, said ramp being controlled by a relay operated by an electric circuit responsive to said light sensitive means, said electric circuit having a flip-flop and a gate circuit, a marked card causing the light sensitive means to energize the gate circuit'to actuate the relay, and a pair of switchesadapted to'be simultaneously actuated by a card passing thereby for conditioningsaid flip-flop and applying voltage across said gate circuit.

16. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim wherein marking means are provided for applying a mark to cards Ipassing thereby.

17. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 16 wherein said marking means comprises a rotatable marker adapted to cooperate with a pivoted pressure roller mounted above the' path of said cards.

18. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 17 wherein said pivoted pressure roller is brought into pressure applying position by actuation of a control roller mounted on said pressure roller.

19. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 18 wherein means are provided for counting the number of cards in said unmarked card receptacle and the number of cards in said marked card receptacle. I

20. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 19 wherein card feeding means are provided, said card feeding means comprising vacuum feed means.

21. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 20 wherein said vacuum feed means comprises an outer rotatable sleeve having an opening therein and a stationary hollow inner core adapted to have air evacuated therefrom and having a conduit therein.

22. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 21 wherein means are provided for accommodating a stack of cards and positioned adjacent said outer sleeve whereby a coincidence of the conduit in the inner core and the opening in the outer sleeve will remove a card from said stack.

23. A scanning mechanism as claimed in claim 22 wherein said cards have data openings therein and wherein the opening in the outer sleeve is adapted to strike the card in an area spaced from said data openings.

24. A scanning mechanism for scanning cards having a predetermined marking area thereon comprising means for moving a card in a path past a scanning station, means for directing light against the marking area of a card passing thereby, light sensitive means adapted to receive reflected light from the marking area of said card to detect whether the marking area has been marked, means responsive to said light sensitive means for separating marked cards from unmarked cards, said separating means comprising a relay controlled by an electric circuit having a flip-flop-and a gate circuit and means are provided responsive to a card for conditioning said flip-flop and applying voltage across said gate circuit. 

